What's happening
This bill requires health insurance to cover breast ultrasounds for individuals with extremely dense or heterogeneously dense breast tissue when a mammogram is provided.
Why it matters
Addresses a gap in breast cancer screening. Individuals with extremely dense or heterogeneously dense breast tissue are at higher risk for missed cancers on standard mammograms; requiring coverage for ultrasounds can lead to earlier and more accurate detection for this group.
Reduces financial barriers to additional imaging. By mandating insurance coverage for ultrasounds when medically indicated, the bill removes out-of-pocket costs that might otherwise prevent patients from accessing recommended follow-up care.
Empowers physician decision-making. The legislation relies on a physician’s determination regarding breast density, ensuring that coverage is based on clinical judgment rather than rigid criteria, potentially leading to more personalized and effective care.
Promotes health equity. Standardizing insurance requirements across all relevant policies helps ensure that all patients—regardless of their insurance plan—have equal access to potentially lifesaving supplemental breast imaging.
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Cover Breast Cancer Ultrasounds
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Cover Breast Ultrasound Screening
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Todd Kaminsky
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5980
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CURRAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to health insurance coverage for breast ultrasound for cancer screening
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 11 of subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (G) to read as follows:
(G) Such coverage shall also be provided for a breast ultrasound in all instances where a mammography screening is provided for under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph in the event that a physician determines that a covered person has extremely dense or heterogeneously dense breast tissue.
§ 2. Paragraph 11 of subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (G) to read as follows:
(G) Such coverage shall also be provided for a breast ultrasound in all instances where a mammography screening is provided for under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph in the event that a physician determines that a covered person has extremely dense or heterogeneously dense breast tissue.
§ 3. Subsection (p) of section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 6 to read as follows:
(6) Such coverage shall also be provided for a breast ultrasound in all instances where a mammography screening is provided for under paragraph one of this subsection in the event that a physician determines that a covered person has extremely dense or heterogeneously dense breast tissue.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09826-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.